Apparatus for removing nicotine and tar producing material from tobacco



Jan. 30, 1968 A. o. VELEZ, SR 3,356,126

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING NICOTINE AND TAR PRODUCING MATERIAL FROM TOBACCO Filed July 25, 1965 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,366,126 APPARATUS FQR REMOVING N ICOTINE AND TAR PRODUCING MATERIAL FROM TOBACCO Andres Octavio Velez, Sr., 314 Perez Roca, Barranco, Lima, Peru Filed July 23, 1965, Ser. No. 474,257 1 Claim. (Cl. 131138) My invention relates to a process and apparatus for removing nicotine and tar producing material from tobacco.

It has been substantially proven that the nicotine and tars in smoke from tobacco are irritants to respiratory organs of the smoker. Also it is well known that filters which are in common use remove only a minute portion of the nicotine and tars. My invention consists in a new process and apparatus for removing nictotine and tar producing material from tobacco, and has as one object thereof to cook the tobacco in a solution arranged to dissolve or decompose the nicotine and tars, and more particularly to cook the tobacco in an alkaline solution at a temperature to so dissolve or decompose said nicotine and tar producing material. It has also been found that substantially the same result is achieved when an acidic solution or even when a solution containing both alkali and acid is used, the important function of this part of the invention being to separate the nicotine and tar producing material from the tobacco my dissolving or decomposing them in the solution and separating the tobacco from the solution.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus for removing nicotine and tar producing material from tobacco by means of which tobacco which has been cooked while contained in a solution is compressed to remove the cooking solution therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus for removing nicotine and tar producing material from tobacco wherein a solution containing said nicotine and tar producing material is discharged free from tobacco fragments and capable of being processed into by-products.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus for removing nicotine and tar producing material from tobacco wherein: Vat means are provided to cook the tobacco in an alkaline or acidic solution, treating tank means are provided to receive the cooked tobacco in solution, coarse screen means are provided in the treating tank to hold back coarse tobacco particles, compressing means are provided in the treating tank to remove the solution from the tobacco, and fine screen means are provided on the discharge side of the compression means to filter out or catch substantially all tobacco which may be usable.

The invention is best illustrated by referring to an apparatus for accomplishing the same. In this regard reference is made to the figure of the drawing. The numeral designates a cooking vat having a removable cover 12. Projecting into the vat 10 is a power driven mixing device 14 arranged to stir tobacco and solution in the vat. Associated with the vat 10 are heating means 16 such as an electric heater, to bring the solution in the vat to a cooking temperature described in more detail hereinafter.

Vat 10 is pivotally supported adjacent its lower end on one or more base standards 18. Such pivotal connection may be accomplished by lug means 20 on the vat pivotally interconnected with the base standard 18 by a pivot pin 22. The means for pivotally supporting the vat 10 may take various forms, the only important function thereof being to move the vat 10 between an upright cooking position and a tilted emptying position. The cooking position and the emptying position are shown respectively in full and phantom lines in the drawing.

$36,126 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 Also forming a part of the apparatus of the present invention is a compressing tank 26 having a bottom wall 28, a topwall 30, a front wall 32, a rear wall 34, and side walls 36. An inlet opening 38 is provided at the upper front end of the compressing tank and an outlet conduit 40 is provided at the lower rear end thereof. A valve 42 is incorporated in the outlet conduit 40 to control the discharge flow of liquid in the tank 26.

Disposed interiorly of the tank and dimensioned the full height and width of said tank is a stationary plate or baflle 44. This plate may be secured in its stationary position by any suitable means such as by welding or bolting. Also disposed in the compressing tank 26 is a movable plate 46 secured on the end of a rod 48 reciprocably powered by a fluid operated motor 50 mounted on a suitable standard 52 outside the compressing tank. The rod 48 projects slidably through the end wall 34 of the tank and through the stationary plate 44. The parts are arranged such that the plate 46 is adapted to be moved away from and toward the plate 44 by the fluid operated motor 50, the plate 46 being arranged to be drawn up close to the plate 44 for compressing solution from tobacco in the solution.

Each of the plates 44 and 46 has a plurality of horizontally disposed bores or passageways 54 and 55, respectively, which permit a flow of tobacco and solution into the area between these two plates for compression of the solution from the tobacco. Disposed on the inner surface of movable plate 46 are flap valves 53. These valves are hingedly connected at their upper ends to the plate whereby when the plate 46 is moving away from plate 44 the tobacco in solution is permitted to move through the apertures 54 but when the plate 46 is moving in the opposite direction the apertures 54 are sealed.

Also mounted in the compressing tank 26 are two screens 56 and 58. Both of the screens extend the full width and height of the tank 26. The screen 56 is positioned forwardly of the plates 44, 46 and comprises a coarse mesh screen to permit passage of substantially all the tobacco in solution therethrough. It will, however, catch very coarse particles which it is desired to be retained behind the screen. It is to be understood that the mesh size of the screen 56 may vary depending upon the condition of tobacco in the cooking vat 10. That is, if the tobacco is cooked in leaf form in the vat or only roughly ground, the screen mesh 56 may for example have one inch openings or larger, but if the tobacco is ground before it is deposited into the cooking vat 10 then the screen 56 necessarily will be of smaller mesh, as for example having a mesh size of two to twelve openings per inch. The screen 58 is positioned rearwardly of the plates 44, 46 and is of finer mesh than the screen 56, such as 12 to 24 openings per inch, whereby to catch substantially all particles of tobacco and allow principally solution to be deposited through the outlet opening 40.

Conduit 40 empties into a tank 60, such as by gravity fiow, which collects the nicotine and tar producing mate rials in solution discharged from the compressing tank 26. This tank has an outlet conduit 62 provided with a suitable control valve 64. The nicotine and tars in tank 60 may be further processed into by-products.

The present invention will become apparent from a description of the operation of the apparatus, as follows:

Tobacco, which may be either in whole leaf form or in ground form is deposited in the cooking vat 10 in solution for cooking. The solution may comprise either an alkaline solution or acidic solution. The alkaline utilized for achieving a desired pH of the solution may comprise any suitable alkali substance such as borax, sodium carbonate and the like. If an acidic solution is utilized, suitable parts of sulphuric acid or nitric acid may be utilized to accomplish a desired pH of the solution.

The proportion of water to tobacco is preferably three parts (by volume) of water to one part of tobacco in the vat 10, and the proportions of alkalines and acids in the vat solution is of course of a selected amount to provide the pH desired. The concentration of the cooking solution may vary, depending principally upon the type or grade of tobacco being cooked. As an example, when an American cigarette or mild tobacco is being processed, the cooking solution may comprise one part (by volume) of alkali or acid to three parts of water. Or, when a stronger tobacco, such as pipe tobacco, is being processed the cooking solution may comprise two parts (by volume) of alkali or acid to two parts of water; and further, when a still stronger tobacco, such as cigar tobacco, is being processed the cooking solution may comprise 3 parts (by volume) of alkali or acid to one part of water.

The tobacco in its solution is cooked in the vat 1G by operation of the heating element 16. The temperature at which the tobacco in solution is cooked may vary, but in all cases in order to provide the desired separation of nicotine and tar producing materials from the tobacco a boiling temperature must be utilized. Thus, the method may be carried out at 212 degrees F. However, temperatures of up 380 degrees F. have been found satisfactory for the substantial complete removal of nicotine and tars. Boiling the tobacco in solution therefore may be accomplished in an open vat at 212 degrees F. or the vat may be closed and a pressure cooking accomplished at temperatures above boiling. The boiling time at 212 degrees F. is approximately 5 minutes but such time is reduced with the increase in temperature and pressure. For example, the boiling time at 380 degrees F. comprises approximately two minutes.

After the tobacco in solution has been cooked for a desired time and temperature, the vat is tilted to the phantom line position shown in the drawing and its contents emptied into the compressing tank 26. The very coarse tobacco particles are collected on the screen 56 and the remaining tobacco and solution flows therethrough. The purpose of the screen 56 is to collect undesirable tobacco leaf parts. The tobacco and solution which flow through the screen 56 also flow through the bores 54 and the movable plate 46 and collect between the plates 46 and 44, the plate 46 being reciprocated to compress the tobacco for removing solution therefrom and the solution being forced rearwardly through the bores 55 in the plate 44 and flowing outwardly through the outlet opening 40. Screen 58, being a very fine mesh screen, collects substantially all particles of tobacco which may flow through the bores 55 in the plate 44 whereby the solution flowing through outlet Opening 40 is substantially free of tobacco particles. Such solution may then be further processed for removing nicotine therefrom for the manufacture of byproducts of nicotine.

The nicotine and tobacco particles or leaves free of some tar producing materials which are compressed between the plates 44 and 46 and which collect on the screen 58 are then removed for formation into products of tobacco. Before forming the products, however, it may be desirable to wash the treated tobacco for removal of the alkali or acid which may be present therein as a result of the cooking step. Such washing is accomplished in a water bath.

The invention will further be illustrated by the following examples:

Example I The vat 10 was filled with three parts (by volume) of water to one part of mild tobacco, the solution being alkaline and comprising one part (by volume) of sodium carbonate to three parts of water. The solution was boiled for five minutes at a temperature of 212 degrees F. and agitated during boiling. The boiled solution was then deposited in the compressing tank 26 utilizing screen mesh openings of one inch for the screen 56 and screen mesh openings of inch for the screen 58. The plate 45 was operated reciprocably to compress solution from the tobacco, the said solution flowing out through opening 40.

Example ll One part (by volume) of a strong tobacco to three parts of water were admitted to the cooking vat 10. The solution utilized in this instance comprised an acidic solution having three parts (by volume) of sulfuric acid to one part of water. Tobacco in this solution was boiled for two minutes at 380 degrees F. while being agitated. The cooked tobacco in its solution was then poured into the compressing vat and treated under conditions the same as in Example I.

It has been found by treating tobacco according to the present process and apparatus that substantially all the nicotine and much of the tar producing materials are removed therefrom. Such is accomplished by the boiling of the tobacco at the prescribed times and temperatures and in either an alkaline or acidic solution. By the present arrangement also, the final solution is available for processing into by-products of nicotine. Although the above examples recite the use of either one or the other of an alkaline or acid, it is to be understood that these two may be combined to increase the nicotine and tar dissolving strength of the solution.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing nicotine and tar producing material from tobacco comprising a cooking vat, means mounting said cooking vat pivotally for movement between an upright cooking position and a tilted emptying position, a compressing tank arranged to receive cooked tobacco in solution from said cooking vat in the tilted emptying position of the latter, and a pair of plates in said compressing tank arranged to receive said cooked tobacco in solution therebetween, the plate closest to the cooking vat being in movable relationship to the other for compressing the cooking tobacco and removing the solution therefrom, the said compressing tank having an inlet and an outlet end, a screen so disposed at the inlet end of such a mesh as to filter out only coarse particles of tobacco before compression, a second screen disposed adjacent the outlet end of the compressing tank of such mesh as to filter out fine particles of tobacco after the tobacco solution has been subjected to compression, the said compressing plates being provided with apertures to permit entrance and discharge of the tobacco solution in the space between the plates, the movable plate being provided with hinged flap valves whereby the tobacco solution is permitted to move freely through the apertures in the said plate prior to compression but which are in closed position during the compressing operation, thus forcing the solution through the apertures in the other plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 185,046 12/1876 Pilinsky 131143 212,399 2/1879 Poladura. 345,076 7/1886 Robinson 131-143 999,674 8/ 1911 Sartig 131143 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

M. D. REIN, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING NICOTINE AND TAR PRODUCING MATERIAL FROM TOBACCO COMPRISING A COOKING VAT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID COOKING VAT PIVOTALLY FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN UPRIGHT COOKING POSITION AND A TILTED EMPTYING POSITION, A COMPRESSING TANK ARRANGED TO RECEIVE COOKED TOBACCO IN SOLUTION FROM SAID COOKING VAT IN THE TILTED EMPTYING POSITION OF THE LATTER, AND A PAIR OF PLATES IN SAID COMPRESSING TANK ARRANGED TO RECEIVE SAID COOKED TOBACCO IN SOLUTION THEREBETWEEN, THE PLATE CLOSEST TO THE COOKING VAT BEING IN MOVABLE RELATIONSHIP TO THE OTHER FOR COMPRESSING THE COOKING TOBACCO AND REMOVING THE SOLUTION THEREFROM, THE SAID COMPRESSING TANK HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET END, A SCREEN SO DISPOSED AT THE INLET AND OF SUCH A MESH AS TO FILTER OUT ONLY COARSE PARTICLES OF TOBACCO BEFORE COMPRESSION, A SECOND SCREEN DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OUTLET END OF THE COMPRESSING TANK OF SUCH MESH AS TO FILTER OUT FINE PARTICLES OF TOBACCO AFTER THE TOBACCO SOLUTION HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSION, THE SAID COMPRESSING PLATES BEING PROVIDED WITH APERTURES TO PERMIT ENTRANCE AND DISCHARGE OF THE TOBACCO SOLUTION IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE PLATES, THE MOVABLE PLATE BEING PROVIDED WITH HINGED FLAP VALVES WHEREBY THE TOBACCO SOLUTION IS PERMITTED TO MOVE FREELY THROUGH THE APERTURES IN THE SAID PLATE PRIOR TO COMPRESSION BUT WHICH ARE IN CLOSED POSITION DURING THE COMPRESSING OPERATION, THUS FORCING THE SOLUTION THROUGH THE APERTURES IN THE OTHER PLATE. 